Stablecoins: Background, Risks and Legislation

Over the last several years, the number of cryptocurrencies has exploded from the hundreds to the thousands. The use of cryptocurrency was supposed to democratize money or build a more inclusive economy, but none of these promises have materialized. Wild price swings and high transaction fees from cryptocurrencies make them useless for payments, the one thing they claim to be designed for. Stablecoins were supposed to solve this problem. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, their value is not just based on market enthusiasm; a stablecoin's value is supposed to be backed by real assets held by the company that issues the stablecoin.